HOW TO: Wear a Hat (there are more rules than you think)

What we love: Winter white hobo hats with matching mittens! Too cute!

A common misconception exists that women and men can wear hats any time, any where and under any circumstance. While it’s true men in hats are more socially acceptable and widely received, women have fewer limitations to wearing them.

1.  To begin it should be noted that it is deemed ‘proper’ for a woman to wear a hat indoors say at church, a gala, a wedding or funeral.  Whereas a man wearing a hat in any of such circumstances would be shunned from these societies.

2.  It is disrespectful for a woman to wear a hat in her own home when guests are over or while in a guests home.  It is viewed that you have somewhere better to be.

3.  A woman must decrease her hat’s brim size as the day progresses.  Sun hats should only be worn in the sun ladies, no matter how Audrey Hepburn your cocktail dress appears!

4.  You can continue to wear straw hats or fedoras into early fall so long as fall is represented on the hat, i.e. the sash ties around the hat should be darker or more autumn in colour.

5. Trucker hats are faux pas.  Refrain from wearing them unless you are attending a hoedown or Halloween party.

6.  Even though a night out at the theatre calls for a special hat, do not continue to wear it during the performance (unless you want tomatoes thrown at you).

7.  Women ARE allowed to wear a hat during the singing of a national anthem.  Men must take theirs off.

8.  While rules can get tricky here is what you can or should wear, when:

Spring or Summer:

• wear hats that are light in weight and material such as straw, silk, linen, cotton and lace.
• if you plan on wearing a large brimmed hat; the bigger the better, as it helps to protect your shoulders as well.
• dark coloured or black hats will only absorb more sun thus causing your scalp to perspire.  Refrain from them in the sunlight.
• be wary of where you may need to go that evening and if you’ll have access to a shower.  Sometimes the only way to rid of hat hair is washing it!  If you’re in a pinch, try a dry shampoo.

Fall or Winter:

• heat escapes mainly through your head, so to keep warm be sure to wear hats that are thicker in fabric; such as, fleece, wool, velvet, suede or tweed.
• stray away from the larger brimmed hats (unless it is still hot and sunny in October)
• cute casual hats you can wear everyday (even indoors) would be fedoras, berets, hobo style wool caps, flapper-style hats (these are called cloches) or small brimmed hats like the newspaper boy cap.

Evening or Cocktail Receptions:

• cocktail hats usually consist of materials such as tulle, taffeta, silk, lace and embellishments
• be conscious of how comfortable you feel in a hat as you will most likely need to wear it all night (hat hair is not typically welcomed at receptions)
• opt for a small embellished comb or barrette (if you are worried about the above)

9.  Don’t be a HAT-er!  Embrace people’s sense of courage and style!

Be fan-HAT-astic!

By: Sarina Adamo